The 100 Best Genesis Games

Welcome to our Top 100 Best Genesis games. Now, for anyone new to the site we follow a set of rules for all our lists. We aim to represent the best of all genre's, we try to limit the number of sequels included to allow more underrated games to shine, and also tend to avoid games that have been ported from earlier systems that don't use the hardware to its full potential. The best Import games are allowed, but only when they're import friendly and don't require an FAQ to play.

Thanks and enjoy the list!

100

Zero Wing

All your base are bel.... that's enough of that thank you, underneath all the over used internet jokes is a fantastic shmup that's fun and very playable. I always loved the feature of clamping onto my enemies and using them as shields and the bullet dodging focus of the game play lent it a slightly different feel over its competition.

A big improvement over the previous games of the series, with its superior animation and much improved controls that allowed you to do much more than was possible in previous games. Madden 95 ended up becoming a bit of a fan favourite.

Decap Attack may not be the most original game out there but when it's done this well, and with great level designs like these who cares? This game was actually an older Arabian themed Japanese import only title which had all of its graphics replaced and game play made fairer, I do feel that the new horror styling really helped to give the game a new level of identity.

Dave Perry was really starting to find his feet with this game, it's all really high quality game play and presentation wise and with a memorable and impressive soundtrack included too. Playability is some of the best of the "collect all the items" style game play which was popular with European developers at the time.

Easily one of the most exciting and kinetic games of the entire 16-bit era, its full of action, and impressive technical trickery, with a brilliant soundtrack that also helps to increase the excitement. A word of warning though, this game is not very accessible, it requires a lot of patience and perseverance and is squarely aimed at hardcore shooting fans, and its due to this that the game placed much lower.

Very Simplistic and charming platformer with a high level of presentation where you run, fly, and swim through the stages swinging your sword. It's just a shame it's missing the 2-player mode and is a little short as without these weaknesses the game really would've shined brighter.

Another one of the many unique, quirky games the Mega Drive was home to. You play as a ghost with the aim of scaring the tenants of a house, they can't directly see you but can see the objects in the environment as you manipulate them.

The MD really was the dominant force for sports games during the 16-bit era, every single sport you could imagine was well represented and this was probably the best option Football wise, I remember spending a lot of time playing it back in the day.

For some reason I always preferred the time attack style racing games when playing on single player, there's just something great about only just hitting a check point with a second to spare, Super Hang-on and its prequel were some of the pinnacle early pioneers of this style. The inclusion of the career mode really helped to improve longevity and depth too.

Bubble and Squeak is a platform based puzzle game where the aim is to get yourself and your blue alien friend to the end of the stage. The alien can't be controlled directly, instead following you and listening to certain commands such as stay, there's a password system and later levels require a lot of careful planning.